When listing off the items in your home that can expire, often the first suggestions are milk, fruit, eggs, and generally any food. But do electrical panels expire? While these food expiration dates are important, it’s also essential to recognize the parts of your electrical system that have an expiration date. Unfortunately, your electrical system isn’t built to last forever, with some parts eventually reaching the end of their lifespan. And by identifying which parts have an expiration date, you’ll be more prepared when the time comes to replace them.

If you’ve ever had questions such as “do electrical panels expire?”  then you’ve come to the right place! The electrical experts at Roman Electric have detailed 5 parts of your electrical system that have an expiration date. Follow our guide below to better maintain your Milwaukee home!

1. Electrical Panel

Electrical panels (and by extension, circuit breakers) act as the central control of your electrical system. Its function is to feed power into every circuit of your home. But do electrical panels expire?

Yes! After about 25-40 years, it’s recommended to get a replacement. Electrical Panels slowly deteriorate over time, and issues will begin to arise a few decades after installation. Older electrical panels begin to trip more frequently, have less modern safety precautions, and become outdated in terms of electrical capacity.

2. Light Bulbs

There are three types of light bulbs available for your home: incandescent, fluorescent, and LED. Each of these light bulbs has a different lifespan, and we have listed them below:

Incandescent – 1,000-2,000 hours. Incandescent bulbs are also the least energy efficient type of bulb but are the cheapest to purchase.

Fluorescent – 7,000-15,000 hours. These light bulbs have more energy efficiency than incandescent bulbs but less than LEDs. Their price is also between the other bulbs.

LED – 25,000-50,000 hours. These light bulbs are the most energy efficient but have the highest cost.

3. Ceiling Fans

The lifespan of a ceiling fan largely depends on the model you purchase. Cheap, low-quality ceiling fans can last a little as 3 years, while higher-quality can last up to 30 years. With the lifespan range being so wide, you’ll want to do some research before buying a new fan.

4. Smoke Detectors

Most smoke detectors have a lifespan of about 10 years, provided you replace the batteries about once a year. After this expiration date, they begin to lose their accuracy when it comes to detecting smoke. This creates a safety hazard, as your home is less effective in protecting you from smoke and fire. Since smoke detectors are usually installed all at once, it’s recommended to replace every device in your home each decade.

5. Wiring

Electricity relies on wire to safely travel through your electrical system. Therefore, it’s important to maintain and know its lifespan. Although most copper wiring can last up to 100 years, it’s the wiring insulation that can deteriorate. After about 25 years, house wiring insulation can become cracked and damaged, which can lead to exposed wire. This creates a safety hazard, as exposed hot wire has a chance of touching conductive material and creating a short circuit. Therefore, it’s recommended to rewire your home every 25 years to help ensure your electrical system has safe wiring.

Help maintain your electrical system by knowing which components have an expiration date. And contact Roman Electric to have a professional service your electrical panel, lighting, ceiling fan, smoke detector, or wiring. Give us a call at 414-369-3798 for Milwaukee’s leading electrical experts.